Be kind to yourself Try to stick to a regular routine. And get enough sleep — not just the night before the test but for weeks or months on end. Don’t stress out if all of this seems like a lot. If a lot seems new, try adding just one new study skill each week or two. Or at least space out your study sessions and practise retrieval for the first few months. As you get more practice, you can add more skills. And if you need help, ask.